2nd Tail - Original Recipe Kitsune

[whatthefoxsay]

Kira could be thankful that when she ended up in the forest, she had her katana with her. Maybe she would have been able to defend herself without it, but she didn't want to think about having to try.

On the first day, she spends most of her time keeping her distance from others, confused by how some of them seem inclined to steer clear of her in turn. By the second day she's to encounter Allison, and with a better understanding of what's going on, she spends the rest of her time trying to search for other benevolent souls and protect them. When she encounters people she believes are good or in need of protection, Kira teaches them a kanji that they can use to indicate they have been in contact with her.

When necessary she tries to pretend she's the nogitsune. She doesn't want to hurt - she hates the idea of having to kill - but she's prepared to defend herself if she has to. When she can, she runs unless forced to fight. She just wants to make it through however long it'll take to get safely back to the barge.

Comments

day one?

[150th]

A darting shape trails curiously behind Kira for a few hours, making no sound. It's quick - turn your head to look, and it might not be there at all.

[whatthefoxsay]

The white blur has caught Kira's eye more than a few times; she simply thought the creature was a local animal that was tracking her.

But it's been stalking her for quite a while, and finally the kitsune decides to turn the tables.

She finds a tree that looks like it might have reasonable cover, secures her katana at her side, and lays down to feign sleep.

Kitsune are tricksters, after-all.

[150th]

Sure enough, this lures Mewtwo out - as soon as Kira goes still, its curiosity gets the better of it and it floats over and loops upside down to peer at her face. This is a new human!

Day 1

[maced_eggs]

Sitting up in a tree is Mason.

He's a warden now, and part of the Mirror Barge, but he might not be as bad as some of the others. Comparatively speaking.

He grins down at Kira, a bottle in one hand. His pack's long since been abandoned.

"Hello, my darling."

[whatthefoxsay]

Kira turns, looking up at Mason and trying to be casual about shading her eyes with her hand as she looks up at him. She won't know which side his on without further engagement. But at least she knows who he is.

"Mason." she says, with careful neutrality. "What do you want?"

[maced_eggs]

Pausing to take a drink, Mason leans his head against the trunk of the tree, one leg swinging lazily back and forth.

"Nothing in particular. Jus' curious. What've you got for us today?"

[surfaceshine]

This isn't Dean's favorite environment, not by a long shot, but it's not one he's completely helpless in. Once he'd have been even kind of in his element, stalking along any trails he finds with a hunting rifle, his pack over one shoulder, alert for any sign of his quarry. He'd always been a hunter. The prey didn't change that so much.

He doesn't have a rifle, now, just his ivory-handled Colt for appearances sake. It makes for a good distraction if anyone tries to attack him, gives him the moment he needs to get the upper hand if he didn't have it already. So many people will focus on such a weapon and ignore that he doesn't even need it at all, anymore.

He seems harmless enough. Certainly more approachable than the version she may have seen around her own Barge here and there. He's also not exactly hiding, but neither does he seem to be actively searching for anything.

[whatthefoxsay]

As with all the others, there's no real way to tell if Dean is on the side of the angels. The fact that he appears to be actively hunting doesn't sit well with her, and for the moment she assumes it's best to appear as the nogitsune. Or whatever she thinks the nogitsune must be like.

She keeps her distance, staying within the brush line as she watches him proceed. She knows she won't be able to keep up being hidden from him - he has all the earmarks of a good hunter.

[surfaceshine]

Dean is most definitely not on the side of the angels. He was quite literally supposed to be, once, but he's still not altogether sure that would have worked out any better for him in the long run. At least this way he had a choice that left him able to gain power, to be something other than a burnt out, useless husk after his purpose was served.

God, he hates supernaturals.

Indeed, she doesn't escape his notice for long. He is hunting, because that was what he once did, that was his career, that was his breath and his life, and it serves him well here. Dean pauses, his back straightens to his full height, and his eyes narrow as he searches visually for the giveaway, for what will tell him who - or what - he feels watching him. (He can hear her pulse.)

"Come on out."

2nd day.

[walkthedarkpath]

Vergil had been searching for someone else when he stepped out of a line of trees. The half demon was all of six foot two, which shocking white hair that contrasts the black and brown leather he is wearing. His hand rested on the hilt of the katana he had been using of late.

He was not really sure where the one he was looking for was, but he still kept walking.

[whatthefoxsay]

Kira has adopted a specific pattern that seems to be serving her well. Stay in the brush and in the shadows as much as she can and follow anyone who comes within her vicinity for as long as possible without being seen. Observe and try to determine if they're friend or foe. Sometimes she is unobserved, but since Kira's not exactly a ninja, sometimes she is noticed.

It's hard to tell with Vergil, but she's intrigued by the fact that he's carrying a similar weapon to hers. She moves as quietly as she can while still watching him carefully and keeping pace. If he goes past what she has decided is her boundaries, she'll leave him be.

[walkthedarkpath]

Vergil could tell someone was watching, being half demon and a fighter for as many centuries as he had walked the earth he knew when someone was in a close range. Namely in a place such as this. At first he had thought it was his mind playing tricks but after a few minutes he turned looking to the brush. His blue eyes narrowing some.

"Come out, come out, where ever you are." He expected one of the ones aiming to kill to be stalking. So his hand stayed on the hilt ready to attack if needed.

Day two!

[changeitroundsome]

Facilier is certainly not a benevolent soul, but he's good at pretending he is. He's been doing the best he can, food wise, stretching out his supplies, moving on as often as he can, keeping clear of that damn wall.

But his powers aren't what they used to be, and he's not especially strong enough physically to protect himself from attack. He knows, eventually, he'll have to find someone gullible enough to help him, should he run into trouble.

He found Kira, which in his mind, was close enough. Still, he's cautious, he doesn't know if she's lost her mind or not, his shadow flits around him, giving away the nervousness he doesn't show on his own features.

"Well, look who it is, 'bout time I ran into a friendly face."

[whatthefoxsay]

Kira is as wary as he is. Facilier may be a familiar face, but a lot of faces are familiar in this place, and the person is completely different. Add to the fact that she doesn't exactly know whether to trust the man under normal conditions, and assessing him is made that much harder.

So while not bothering to try and disappear back into the greenery, Kira keeps a little space between them, and her body tense, prepared for motion.

"Is that what we are? Friendly?"

[changeitroundsome]

He notes her body language, and keeps a respectful distance, partly to put her at ease, and partly for his own safety. He raises his hands, palms out, showing he's unarmed.

"'Less you're one of those mirror folks out to kill me, then I'd say so."

2nd day

[lydiascreams]

[When Lydia arrives at Allison's hideout, she's surprised to see Kira there. She makes her way toward the other girl instantly, not sure which version of her she is, but trusting Allison's instincts to know she's good.

It's really hard to imagine Kira as anything else. Lydia may have a darker past where she's made bad choices but Kira just offered to jump in and help a group of near strangers to save someone's life. Someone who she barely even knew at the time. Like Scott, to Lydia, Kira is one of those inherently good people.]

Hey. [She smiles, tiredly but sincerely.]

It's good to see you.

[whatthefoxsay]

Kira's blade comes out and she backs up a step. The fact that Lydia knows where the hideout is notwithstanding, there's only one way to know for sure if this is actually Lydia.]

If you're really Lydia - my Lydia - I mean, the Lydia I know, then Allison would have showed you something, and you would know to show it to me.

[She dips the edge of her blade briefly.]

There, on the ground. Show me.

[If Lydia was vetted by Allison, she'll know the draw the triskellion in the dirt.]

day 2

[versusnurture]

[Abigail's had decent enough dealings with Kira before. She's not totally useless, and she creates some interesting chaos. Abigail would even consider them friends, as much as she has friends anymore. So when she comes across her on the second day, she offers a vaguely welcoming smile and leans against a tree for balance.]

Any luck so far? I think I have something stuck in my shoe.

[whatthefoxsay]

[The casual way in which Abigail addresses her makes Kira think this version of her believes she is the nogitsune. She adjusts accordingly. Kira may believe she's a lousy liar, but kitsune are tricksters. And this is just another trick.

She too leans against a tree, folding her arms in front of her, one hand always close to the hilt of her katana. She affects a bored tone.]

I'm finding this all very dull. Everyone racing around in a hurry. Nobody's taking their time about things. That's when it's best.

[semifreakingnormal]

He sees her armor - her aura, he reminds herself, even though it's easier to think of the former description first - from a distance, and breathes a sigh of relief. It would be different if she wasn't herself, wouldn't it? But it looked just the same as it did in Derek's flat. It looks strong, and good, and reliable. Familiar.

He runs to her, dropping to all fours to cross a long open clearing, to stay low in the tall grass - but by the time he comes to wear he last saw her, he gets to his feet again: the sideburns fade, hes ears curve, and his eyes are brown again. He could keep the wolf-o-vision on, it would be easier to find her, but - well. In what universe is someone with glowing red eyes not unsettling?

"Kira?"

He keeps his voice soft, in case anyone else is around.

[whatthefoxsay]

There's pretty much nothing she can do about her aura, a fact which has become painfully obvious to Kira during this time.

That doesn't matter though, because when Scott makes his appearance, her katana is immediately raised, and for a moment she just stares at him with too-wide eyes.

"Scott?"

The tip of the sword drops to the ground. She doesn't know how she knows, but she knows...and suddenly he's got an armful of kitsune, her head buried into his shoulder.

"It's you. I know it's you." Her shoulders sag with relief.

Day 2

[voluntaryapnea]

She's the one person on the Barge he tries the hardest to avoid. The nogitsune is terrifying, even to a werewolf. It feeds on chaos and pain and strife and it doesn't care who it's feeding from. It's unlike anything he's ever seen or even heard of.

When he sees her, he ducks behind a tree, pressing himself back against it and cursing himself for being so stupid.

[whatthefoxsay]

She saw him.

At first she can't imagine why Stiles would possibly hide from her, and then oh yes, it must mean he thinks she's the nogitsune, which means in turn she's not sure if he's the Stiles she knows. Going through this every time she sees a familiar face is taxing on her spirit.

She remains quiet, doesn't call out. But she does frown pointedly in the direction of the true. Crossing her arms over her chest, she calls out, perhaps ominously, "I know you're there."

[imfollowinghim]

[Bucky's looking for other people too, but sort of in the other direction. If he runs into good people, he definitely doesn't just move right along - he stops and tries to help as best he can, or at least touches base - but his primary focus is finding out who's going to cause trouble, and who's creeping too close to wherever he, Steve and Helena have set up camp.

It's more or less what he'd done during the war, too, after being assigned to the Commandos. Hell, back when he'd been with the 107th too, because occasionally he'd had to make some kind of probing patrol after the Anzio breakout. He's good at it, too, and it's easier when you don't have a group of eight terrified privates and a bossy, idiot Lieutenant tripping over his own feet.

But in a lot of ways, this is way harder than it had ever been back then, because back then, you saw a uniform and knew this guy was your enemy. Now, you see your friend's face, and you're not sure if they're going to come running at you to attack, or act the way they're supposed to.

So when he winds up crossing paths with Kira, he doesn't show himself immediately, crouching in the underbrush instead. She wasn't here the last time this happened, so he has no idea what to expect from her other self, if she is different.

Admittedly, she doesn't know what his other self is like either, which could be its whole own set of issues.]

[whatthefoxsay]

[She's managed to find a stream, and is kneeling in front of it, taking sips from her cupped hands and scrubbing her face free of dirt. But her enjoyment only lasts so long, as it seems to occur to her that she's being watched.

She straightens up, reaching behind her to pull her katana free as she rises to her feet and moves into a defensive stance. Her eyes are wide as she slowly turns.

She can sense Bucky's there, but she doesn't know exactly where he is. Or who he is.]